FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - First Trip Report : ABV-DXB-IAD. 21 hours stopover in Dubai (Emirates Connect)

Sep 23, 2018 | 3:51 pm

#1

seyewest

Join Date: Jun 2016

Location: Nigeria

Programs: Emirates Skyward

Posts: 21

First Trip Report : ABV-DXB-IAD. 21 hours stopover in Dubai (Emirates Connect)

Highlights of this trip report include:

The Emirates Economy flight from Abuja (ABV) to Dubai (DXB)
The Copthorne Hotel Deira, Dubai
The Dubai Train ride
City Centre Mall, Deira and the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa
The famous Dubai Fountain show
Emirates Economy flight from Dubai (DXB) to Washington (IAD)
The Transfer from Airplane to Mobile lounge

This will be my first ever trip report on flyertalk, even though this is one of my numerous trip to the U.S, I have the options of flying with British Airways, Air France, Ethiopia Airline, Lufthansa, Emirates Airlines, Turkish Airlines to Dulles International Airport, Washington from Abuja where I’m based. I choose Emirates Airline because of this important reason which was; flying from Abuja means I will qualify for Emirates Connect, if my stopover in Dubai is more than 8 hours for Economy class and best connection time is not available (meanwhile my stopover is for 21 hrs) secondly my friend work around IAD and lives in Maryland so it’s a no-brainer and the best part is that I can do this on a saver economy ticket.

Wednesday, 19th September 2018
Emirates Airline (EK786)
Abuja (ABV) to Dubai (DXB)
Boeing 777-300ER

Despite my basic economy fare, I was able to secure a window seat for my trip to Dubai through the Emirates airline app which opened for check in 48 hrs before the trip.

National Mosque Abuja

Abuja Velodrome

Abuja City Gate

Abuja International Airport Toll

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport

Emirates Check-in

Custom Declaration Form

unfortunately, the Jet-bridge was not working today, it's always good to be on the tarmac

Fire truck on alert as the big bird is refueled

The big bird: 777-300ER
Emirates replaced the Abuja-Dubai route with Boeing 777-300ER from the 777-300 which was a fantastic move by them because there are Live Tv and Internet on the flight and the legroom is not bad. Pushback started at 6:17 pm and we lifted off at 6:36 pm from runway 04/22.

Boarding

Cabin

The World Famous ICE

Abuja

Good legroom

Sade

Live TV, Champions League : Real Madrid vs Roma

Menu

Meal

Flight info

Wedding Party II, a Nigerian nollywood Movie

Sandwich

UAE from air

Before landing my phone fell and stopped working until I got it repaired in Dubai, this means that I was not able to record the landing, the stopover visa processing with Emirates connect and hotel transfer.

The Copthorne Hotel Deira, Dubai
The Dubai Train ride
City Centre Mall, Deira, and the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa
The famous Dubai Fountain show

We disembarked at terminal 3 and I took a train to terminal 1 for STPC visa processing provided by Emirates Connect, transfer to the hotel was done an hour and 12 mins after touchdown which is not bad considering that we landed in Dubai around 04:03 am Dubai time.Check-in was done within 5 mins of reaching the Hotel (Copthorne Hotel Deira, Dubai) and I slept till around 1 pm local time. The Emirates Customers care unit advised me to take the phone to Deira City Mall for repair, getting to the Mall means I had to get a metro pass.I got a metro pass for 22AED (N2,172 and $5.99) made for tourist with less than 48 hours in Dubai, I think it’s good value for money and metro is the best way to get around Dubai. Yay, I got my phone repaired and the technician refused payment, he said it’s a routine job, I thanked him profusely before exploring the Mall.

City Mall Deira

Entrance to City Mall Deira

Out and About

Deira City

Red Metro Card: Day Pass

Dubai Metro

The Dubai Metro is a rapid transit rail network in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Red Line and Green Line are operational, with one more line being constructed. These first two lines run underground in the city center and on elevated viaducts elsewhere.Wikipedia

After fixing my phone and exploring the Deira City Mall, I decided to take a trip to the Dubai Mall (Which contains the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain Lake).

Metro Station

The Metro

Map of Train network in Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall Network

The Long Walk to The Dubai Mall

Tourist

The Emaar Building

The Lake

A quick trip to the Apple Store to charge my phone

Apple Store, Dubai Mall

The Dubai Fountain is the world's largest choreographed fountain system. It is set on the 30-acre manmade Burj Khalifa Lake, at the center of the Downtown Dubai development in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Wikipedia
Start by 6pm everyday and lasted for 5 mins or so.

The Tallest Building in the World

The Fountain Display.....Enjoy

Dubai Mall

Aquarium

Straight to Rashidiya

Metro Network

Room

Dinning Room

yummy

Hotel Reception

Reception called me around 11:30pm to remind me about my flight to Washington DC.

Emirates Economy flight from Dubai (DXB) to Washington (IAD)
The Transfer from Airplane to Mobile lounge

Friday, 21st September 2018
Emirates Airline (EK232)
Dubai (DXB) to Washington D.C (IAD)
Airbus A380-800

We left the hotel around 11:45 am and got to the airport 15 mins later. Went through immigration which was quite fast, I took the airport train to terminal 3 to connect with my flight to Washington D.C.